Do you think djokovic will ever be number 1?

I'm not saying his prime is over; hes a young guy, but he played much better tennis in 07/08 then this year. Do you think that he will make it to number 1 at any point in his career? If so, then for how long?

I don't see it. Unless he adds a few things to his game, it seems like guys are starting to figure him out and learn how to play against him. He's the type of guy who has to play at a high level to be effective, i.e, he can't have too many off days and still win, while guys like Federer, Nadal, can have off days and still win.

Back in early 08 it looked possible. He was challenging for number two. Nadal had only won slams on clay. He had just beaten Federer in a grand slam.

Now it doesn't look so hot. Nadal's dominance has spread to other slams. Federer rebounded from his Australian Open loss to take the U.S. and now the French. And of course Murray's risen through the rankings like a meteor.

But things change quickly in tennis. Djokovic is streaky. Right now he's having a bad streak. In a few months, or maybe a year or two, he might go on another good streak like in early 08.

Yeah I'm sure he will. In early 08 it seemed like it was a matter of time before he was going to reach number 1. He just needs to get back into that form and he will. Even on clay this year he showed why he is one of the top competitors for the number one ranking, he just needs to keep up that level.

If Djokovic could improve his fitness ( how can a grinder run out of gass so quickly??) and toughen up mentally he would be so much more of a contender... Otherwise I think even Delpo has a better chance

I have a feeling like he'll pick up another slam, but won't ever be #1.

I don't think he has what it takes to dominate for long enough of a period of time to take the #1 sport. He might have a great run for a couple of months (like early 2008, for example), but then it could all suddenly change (like the middle of 2008 ).

Number one is very hyped IMHO. Take rafa before this year's FO. He won 3 out of the 4 last GS, the olympics and many masters. He was on fire.

An early loose in FO and everybody is counting that roger can get back number 1 after wimby. ATP scoring system is very demanding, and a bad strike puts the number 1 back to 2 quickly.

I don't agree with many players who asked to extend the scoring system across 2 years instead of yearly because that's the way it's been until now and because it makes something extraordinary to keep #1 for a long time, but it's also "easy" to become the #1 even if it's just for a few weeks.

I'm pretty sure he won't be. he's obviously not getting any closer nowdays - as Murray passed him in the rankings. He certainly has the game and talent to be #1, but I don't think he's mentally up for the task, not to mention his questionable fitness. You just never get the feeling of domination when Djokovic is playing. Not the feeling you get when you watch Fed or Nadal.

I wish him all the best, despite the fact I dislike him.

Murray, IMO, does have the ability to become #1, but he has much to prove before that happens.

I don't seeing it happening that soon,he needs to sort some things out mentally and improve his fitness but I do think it will happen some time in the future.I don't expect him to dominate of course but I think he'll get to number one even if it is for a short while.

Yes, why not? If Kafelnikov, Moya or Rafter were able to do it, there's no reason why a talented player like Djoko couldn't.

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They didn't have someone as consistant as Nadal the same age as them like Novak has but yeah I think he'll do it as well.Will be tough with Murray and Nadal but I think he'll get there sometimes in the future.

He sure is playing like one recently,needs to go back to being agressive and blasting that FH again.

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I agree, but as you said, grinding isn't his style - not even close. At his best I'd describe his game as "controlled aggression". He likes hitting winners and painting lines with powerful strokes, not playing like a pusher.

They didn't have someone as consistant as Nadal the same age as them like Novak has but yeah I think he'll do it as well.Will be tough with Murray and Nadal but I think he'll get there sometimes in the future.

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He's younger than Nadal and SO FAR he's done better in slams than Murray and better on clay as well. I'm not saying it's a given he will ever be #1 but he definitely has a chance.

He's younger than Nadal and SO FAR he's done better in slams than Murray and better on clay as well. I'm not saying it's a given he will ever be #1 but he definitely has a chance.

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HE is only a year younger than Nadal. That is hardly anything. The only surface he seems to still be better than Murray on this point is on clay, Murray has probably surpassed him on all other surfaces now. While Murray is improving fast, Djokovic is stagnating or regressing, then coming up for a bit, then having a bad loss and losing some confidence, a cycle like that. Overall Murray is pulling away from him at the moment though. As for doing better in slams, Murray has had a better result than Djokovic in 3 of the last 4 slams. Then there is someone like Del Potro who is coming up fast and if Djokovic doesnt turn things around could easily be surpassed by him too. That isnt to mention all the many younger players who we either know of but are not up there (eg- Gulbis, Cilic, Nishokori) who might or might not make it someday, plus players who are noted juniors now (Tomic) or who we know almost nothing about now but some who will arrive as top tenners in the future.

To answer the thread question no I dont think Djokovic will ever be ranked #1. I think #3 could easily turn out to be his career highest ranking.

I agree, but as you said, grinding isn't his style - not even close. At his best I'd describe his game as "controlled aggression". He likes hitting winners and painting lines with powerful strokes, not playing like a pusher.

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I think conrolled aggression is an excellent way to describe Novak's game.However this is not the first time I see him playing like grinder,that mostly happens when he's low on confidence.

He could have been #1 easily at some point during the late 90s and early 2000s. The weak transition period time in mens tennis when Sampras was on decline, Agassi was in and out as usual, and generation next was on the horizon other than the very beatable Hewitt in the early 2000s. However I dont think he will ever get to #1 now as we are already entered into and will continue in a very strong time for mens tennis. Roger will be around several more points and I think the closest Djokovic will ever come to him in the rankings during that time was last year. Nadal will never be surpassed by Djokovic in the rankings until he really begins to slow with age (could happen at 25 or so but that is still over a couple years away). Murray seems to be more a late bloomer type than Djokovic, it is possible now that he is already ranked over Djokovic that he always will be in the future. That isnt even counting Del Potro and many other potential big future champions.

Djokovic could have been #1 in 1998-2002 and probably would have won a bunch of slam titles during this weak period. The period he is coming up in though, no, he is not good enough to ever reach #1 amongst the current field and what he will face in coming years.

That isnt even counting Del Potro and many other potential big future champions.

Djokovic could have been #1 in 1998-2002 and probably would have won a bunch of slam titles during this weak period. The period he is coming up in though, no, he is not good enough to ever reach #1 amongst the current field and what he will face in coming years.

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Everyone is talking about great future stars that will be too good for Djokovic. I understand Murray, since he's been beating Djokovic recently, although he doesn't exist on clay. But who else?

Del Potro has improved a lot, but he hasn't shown that much yet. He beat Nadal once and Murray once on clay, and pushed Fed to 5 sets at FO, but apart from that he's been owned by all top 4 consistently.

Others like Cilic and Gulbis are a year younger than Djoko and are far less accomplished than Djoko was this time last year.

Others like Nishikori are too young to discuss seriously.

Djokovic may improve his form later on, Del Potro may settle down. Anything can happen, but posters have already concluded that Djokovic will stay where he is and others will zip past him. That reminds one of how Djokovic was hyped as being way better than Nadal and Fed last year.

I think he stands an excellent chance of being ranked number one. Still I don't see it happening for at least another eighteen months. To be honest, his game needs maturing and Nadal and Fed both need to drop their play.

He could do with going bigger on the first serve but his second serve is the best out of the top 4 imo.

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yeah his 2nd serve is great, he has that great power/spin combo that sampras had (ofcourse at a lower level). I haven't seen him play much recently but last year he seemed like he was only going big on his first serve when he was behind. I don't think he can expect to dominate either murray or nadal off the ground at this point (except murray on clay).

Everyone is talking about great future stars that will be too good for Djokovic. I understand Murray, since he's been beating Djokovic recently, although he doesn't exist on clay. But who else?

Del Potro has improved a lot, but he hasn't shown that much yet. He beat Nadal once and Murray once on clay, and pushed Fed to 5 sets at FO, but apart from that he's been owned by all top 4 consistently.

Others like Cilic and Gulbis are a year younger than Djoko and are far less accomplished than Djoko was this time last year.

Others like Nishikori are too young to discuss seriously.

Djokovic may improve his form later on, Del Potro may settle down. Anything can happen, but posters have already concluded that Djokovic will stay where he is and others will zip past him. That reminds one of how Djokovic was hyped as being way better than Nadal and Fed last year.

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Del Potro is improving at a rapid rate that is absolutely scary.

Djokovic is getting tooled by Roddick of all people (and this is coming from a Roddick fan) all year long. Even getting beat by the likes of Haas and Kohlschrieber. All quality players; but all players Djokovic SHOULD beat, especially Haas and Kohlschrieber.

Djokovic is getting tooled by Roddick of all people (and this is coming from a Roddick fan) all year long. Even getting beat by the likes of Haas and Kohlschrieber. All quality players; but all players Djokovic SHOULD beat, especially Haas and Kohlschrieber.

Djokovic is getting tooled by Roddick of all people (and this is coming from a Roddick fan) all year long. Even getting beat by the likes of Haas and Kohlschrieber. All quality players; but all players Djokovic SHOULD beat, especially Haas and Kohlschrieber.

If he doesn't do something soon, he'll probably never reach world #1.

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That is what I am seeing too. Del Potro and Murray are improving and moving up fast while Djokovic is struggling to try and sustain for periods of time his level from spring 2007-spring 2008 at best. Unless something changes fast he will be well behind both before too long.

Also people keep saying when Federer and Nadal are gone, well there is a good chance Federer and Nadal wont be done winning majors until 2012 or so, and by that time there will could be who knows players emerge as top threats in addition.

You also need consistency to reach World #1. Djokovic showed consistency in 2007 and the first half of 2008 but has lost that consistency since.

What a joke, Kohlschrieber has done nothing notable on clay throughout his entire career. Djokovic was being taunted as the "anti Nadal", "2nd best claycourter", etc. and all of a sudden we're using the excuse Kohlschrieber was playing too good?

No excuses. Djokovic simply did not play at the level he should have played.

What a joke, Kohlschrieber has done nothing notable on clay throughout his entire career. Djokovic was being taunted as the "anti Nadal", "2nd best claycourter", etc. and all of a sudden we're using the excuse Kohlschrieber was playing too good?

No excuses. Djokovic simply did not play at the level he should have played.

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Yeah, i do realise he played quite bad. But still, The guy was ripping his 1 hander during the match.

It's amazing how much Del Potro is improving all the time.People may say he choked against Fed at the FO or whatever but for a while in that match he looked like big Agassi with Karlovic's serve.He was serving 135 mph bombs at 70%,hit huge and early off ground and wasn't missing much at all.Fed barely got out with his skin in that one and I don't think he was playing bad at all that day.

I dont think Del Potro choked. He wasnt close to winning either the 4th or 5th sets and you have to be in a winning position to choke. Federer played much better those 2 sets, and Del Potro had put so much energy into all this shots the first 3 sets it would have been impossible to avoid a dropoff. The 2nd set he never had an edge, it was narrow all the way. It may seem he deserved to win dominating the first 3 sets overall but the scoring system in tennis doesnt neccessarily pan out that way.

I dont think Del Potro choked. He wasnt close to winning either the 4th or 5th sets and you have to be in a winning position to choke. Federer played much better those 2 sets, and Del Potro had put so much energy into all this shots the first 3 sets it would have been impossible to avoid a dropoff. The 2nd set he never had an edge, it was narrow all the way. It may seem he deserved to win dominating the first 3 sets overall but the scoring system in tennis doesnt neccessarily pan out that way.

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Well not saying he deserved to win or anything but I was very impressed with the level of play he displayed in first 3 sets.I mean this was a guy Fed double bageled at AO and since then he has beaten Nadal,Murray and pushed Fed to five at the slam,that's some improvement.

Well not saying he deserved to win or anything but I was very impressed with the level of play he displayed in first 3 sets.I mean this was a guy Fed double bageled at AO and since then he has beaten Nadal,Murray and pushed Fed to five at the slam,that's some improvement.

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Yes that is what I am saying. He is improving quickly, while Djokovic is at best reaching his level of Winter 2008 (eg- equaling his best ever level of tennis) for blips of time.

Yes that is what I am saying. He is improving quickly, while Djokovic is at best reaching his level of Winter 2008 (eg- equaling his best ever level of tennis) for blips of time.

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Yes,Novak definitely needs to pick it up.Guys like Murray and Delpo ain't gonna wait for him.Losses like the one against Kohlschreiber are uneacceptable,I mean Murray who is definitely worse than Novak on clay went much further than him at FO.Not something Novak can afford to allow to happen.